Film-regulator.



M. W. MACDONALDf FILM REGULATOR.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 16, 1914.

1 1 83,2 1 5. Patented May 16, 1916.

Wane/awe: 3 vwe, ntoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOTT W. MACDONALD, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOWILLIAM STALKER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FILM-REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed July 16, 1914. Serial No. 851,405.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mo'r'r \V. MACDONALD, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Rochester, Monroe county, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFilm-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for regulating the position of stoppage ofphotographic films and the like, as used in so-called film cameras. Itis well known that in such cameras the film, after exposure, is oftenfed either too far or not far enough; in the one case film being wastedunnecessarily, and in the other case an overlapping of successivepictures being probable. To be sure, the so-called daylight filmcartridges are commonly provided with a protecting strip, interwoundwith the film, which protecting strip carries on its back, marks adaptedto be read through a suitable window in the back of the camera, themarks serving to indicate points at which the user should stop the film.But it is well known to users of such cameras, that somewhat closeobservation is required in order to avoid overrunning such marks; also,the user is often in doubt whether sue a mark has not already passed thewindow without being observed. Furthermore, photographs are sometimestaken from positions at which the light is so dim that it isdifiicult toobserve such marks through the necessarily colored glass of the window.

According to my invention, I provide means which positively arrests eachsection of the film when it has arrived in registry with the field ofexposure of the camera; such arrest being accomplished without any actof the user other than the ordinary act of winding up the film on theWinding spool of the camera; and I provide simple and easily actuatedmeans for releasing the film when, after exposure, the exposed film isto be moved on and a new length or section of film brought into thefield of exposure.

My invention consists in means for automatically arresting camera filmsas succes sive picture portions thereof are brought into registry withthe field of exposure, and for releasing such films when further feedonward of the film is desired; and other features all as hereinafterdescribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The objects of my invention are, to facilitate the feeding of thephotographic film of film cameras, to avoid overlapping of successivepictures on the one hand, and unnecessary Waste of film on the otherhand; to avoid occasion for the camera user giving close attention tothe feeding of the film in order to insure the feeding forward ofprecisely the proper length; to insure the feeding forward of the properlength of film, each time, without requiring conscious attention of theuser to the length of film being fed; to provide for the easy and surerelease of the film after each feeding operation; and to make the filmarresting and releasing device employed very simple, very compact,inexpensive, and readily appllcable to existing types of photographiccameras.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to, theaccompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features inclaims.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation and partial longitudinal section of onewell known type of film camera provided with film control meansembodying my invention; Fig. 2 shows a, fragmentary face view of theback of such camera removed and inverted, the film control device beingtherefore shown in top view; Fig. 3 shows a top fragmentary view of thefilm-frame and associated parts of the camera, with the back platethereof removed; Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary end view and partialtransverse section of the camera, the section being taken on the lineaczv of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows a detail elevation of the film controldevice, detached, the scale of this figure being larger than that of thepreceding figures; and Fig. 6 shows a portion of a strip of filmprovided with edge perforations, at suitable intervals, to receive thearresting pin of the film control mechanism, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings numeral 1 designates the box of a camera ofwell known type, 2 the removable back plate of such camera. 3 the supplyspool of such a camera, 4 the winding spool of such a camera, and 5 thefilm frame of such a camera, the said frame bounding the field ofsame-mamv 1.5.. H

I exposure. 6 designates the usual bellows.

I have shown the camera in its usual folded condition, as my inventiondoes not in any Way involve the construction of lens, shutter, focusingmechanism, bellows, etc.

The construction and operation of the film supply spool and film windingspool and the operating mechanism of the latter, is not affected, nor isthe construction of the film strip itself affected, except that suchfilm strip is provided at suitable intervals (as indicated in Fig. 6)with marginal perforations 7, spaced apart adistance corresponding tothe intended distance between pictures on such film; and when the filmstrip-is provided with a protecting strip (as in the case of thedaylight cartridge re ferred to) such protecting strip may also have acorresponding series of perforations, 7 (see Fig. 6) also when there isprovided between the film strip and the protecting strip a layer ofcarbon paper or the like, as in the case of the so-called autographicfilm cartridges such carbon strip will itself be provided withcorresponding perforations 7 2 (Fig. 6). In Figs. 1 and 6, 8 designatesthe photographic fihn itself, 9 the said carbon paper, and 10 theprotecting strip.

My film-control device comprises a combined support and stripper-plate11 (see particularly Figs. 1 and 5) commonly secured to a suitableportion of the camera box (in the construction shown, secured to theremovable back plate 2 of the camera box) to which support is pivoted alever 12 provided at one end with a pin 13 adapted to pass through theperforations 7, 7' and 7 2 of the film strip, protecting strip andcarbon strip; a suitable spring 14 being provided which tends to pressthe pin 13 toward the film. The film frame is provided with acorresponding aperture 7 '(see Fig. 3) to receive the pin 13. The lever12 is also provided with a push button 15 (Fig. 1) where by the levermay be actuated to move the pin 13 out of engagement with the variousapertures 7, 7, 7 and 7 I have shown the back plate 2 of the camera asprovided with the usual covering-layer 16 of leather or other flexiblematerial; and, as is usual with the push buttons of cameras so covered,the head of the push button 15 will be beneath this covering layer 16,and will be located in an aperture 17 of the back plate or other adacent portion of the camera box, such aperture permitting actuation ofthe button 15 by pressure upon the cover layer 16 transmitted throughsuch covering layer to the push button.

The support and stripper frame 11 is, advantageously, and as shown, ofapproximately U-shape, one side of the U resting upon the film (or, whenthe film is provided with a protecting stri as shown, resting upon theprotecting strip) whereby lifting of the film itself, or the protectingstrip, or the intermediate carbon strip, by the pin 13, is prevented.

It will be clear that the operation of feeding forward the film is thesame as in an ordinary film camera; and that, as the film is drawnforward by rotation of the winding spool 4, as each series ofperforations 7, 7 and 7 come opposite the pin 13, the latter descends,under the influence of the spring 14, so automatically arresting thefeeding of the film. These perforations 7, etc., being spaced apartprecisely the distance corresponding to the intended spacing of thepictures on the film, the arrest of the film by the action of the pin 13insures correct registry of each picture section of the film with thefield of exposure, and insures such arrest without requiring anyattention whatever on the part of the user. After exposing one sectionof the film, the push button 15 is pressed down so as to move the pin 13out of engagement with the film strip and the corresponding strips 9 and10, and the film may be fed onward in the usual manner; pressure uponthe push button being released immediately after the motion of the filmstarts, so that the pin 13 may be free to drop into the perforations 7,7 and 7 when the next perforations arrive underneath the pin 13.

My invention therefore clearly obviates necessity for any closeobservation on the part of the user, of the distance'through which thefilm is fed, and if the user merely feeds forward the film in theordinary manner until the film is' arrested by the action of the pin 13,he is assured that the film has been fed forward precisely the desiredamount; thereby overfeeding of the film is obviated, also underfeedingof the film with consequent overlapping of pictures. 6

My invention does not interfere with the use of the usual markings onthe back of the protecting strip in connection with a window, such as18, through which such markings may be observed; but when my filmcontrol device is used, such window and the corresponding markings onthe protecting strip, will be of utility only as showing the number ofthe film section which is in the field of exposure.

In order to prevent the pin 13 being lifted so high that it passes outof the corresponding perforation in the strip plate 11, I have providedthe lever 12 with a projection 19 which will engage the back of the Ushaped stripping plate before such pin 13 can have passed out of theperforation in the front portion of the stripping plate.

The orifices 7, 7 and 7 2 in the film, protecting strip and carbonstrip, respectively, are preferably made somewhat broader, transverselyof the strips, than the pin 13, in

order that engagement of such perforations by the pin 13 may be insured,notwithstanding some lateral wandering of the strips that are fedthrough the camera.

It will be obvious that my film-control device is susceptible ofembodiment in various different forms, and I do not limit myself to theparticular construction shown, but re gard any device capable ofautomatically engaging and arresting the film at predetermined points onthe film, as embodying my invention.

What I claim is:

1. Film-control means for hotographic cameras comprising a combinedsupport and stripper-plate, such stripper plate having an openingthrough it, a member pivotally connected to such combined support andstripper plate, and having strip engaging means passing through suchopening of the stripper plate, said pivoted member having means adaptedto engage the stripper-plate to prevent such strip engaging means frompassing out of such opening.

2. Film-control means for photographic cameras comprising a combinedsupport and stripper-plate of approximately U-form, one side of the Uconstituting a stripper plate, having an opening through it, a memberpivotally connected to'such combined support and stripper plate, andhaving strip engaging means passing through the said opening of thestripper plate, said pivoted member having a projection adapted toengage the other side of said U-shaped combined support and stripperplate, and thereby to prevent withdrawal of the said strip engagingmeans from the opening of the stripper plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

MOTT W. MACDONALD.

Witnesses:

H. M. MARBLE, PAUL H. FRANKE.

